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Posted on: March 31, 2016

Meetings to discuss proposed co-located SS911, Health Department and Community Connections building

Want to learn more about possible facility solutions that Pierce County is exploring? Residents can attend community meetings during April to hear about a concept under consideration that may provide improved facilities for some County employees, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and South Sound 911. At the meetings, representatives from the three agencies will preview the concept proposal and residents can ask questions.

“While this is still just a concept in the due diligence phase, we believe this will prove to be an innovative solution with many benefits to all three partner organizations, as well as the communities we serve,” said Rick Talbert, County Councilmember and Tacoma Pierce-County Health Department Board member.

Monday, April 18: Pierce County Environmental Services Building (9850 64th St. W. in University Place), 7 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, April 21: Lakewood City Hall (6000 Main St. SW in Lakewood) 7 to 8 p.m.

Speakers from Pierce County, the Health Department and South Sound 911 will discuss the building concept, timing, funding and other details.

The proposed concept includes razing the existing Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and the Sound View buildings, as well as the old Puget Sound Hospital. Pierce County would purchase an existing building at 3615 Pacific Avenue to house the Health Department and Pierce County’s Community Connections group. The Health Department would be a tenant in the County-owned facility. Once the Health Department has relocated, South Sound 911 would build a new office on the vacant land to combine its employees currently working in five separate locations.

The highlights of the concept under consideration are:

The County would eliminate a costly lease;

The Health Department would vacate a building in need of significant upgrades and repairs and remain in a location familiar and convenient to its customers and clients;

South Sound 911 would be able to move forward and build a new public safety communications center;

Some complementary work of the Health Department and Community Connections would better serve its customers; and

The community would no longer have to deal with the crime associated with the abandoned hospital

If the concept moves forward, the proposed project would eventually face a Pierce County Council vote.